26 Nigerian students sponsored under the Barau Jibrin Foundation have returned to the country after completing their postgraduate studies in India, with a charge to deploy their knowledge toward national development.
The students, who studied courses including Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and forensic science, arrived at the international wing of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday, where they were received by government officials, family members and well-wishers.
Speaking at the reception, the Chief of Staff to the Deputy President of the Senate, Prof. Mohammed Abdullah, described the students’ return as a milestone in human capital development efforts championed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin.
Prof. Abdullah said the 26 graduates formed the first batch of beneficiaries who successfully completed their postgraduate programmes abroad under the fully funded scholarship scheme.
“We are here to celebrate the arrival of students sponsored to study in India and other countries. This is the first batch, and they have all returned with outstanding results,” he said.
He noted that the beneficiaries were drawn from different parts of Kano State, stressing that the initiative was not limited to the senator’s constituency.
According to him, the scholarship covered tuition, accommodation and stipends throughout the duration of their studies.
Prof. Abdullah added that more batches of students sponsored under the scheme were expected to return in the coming months, particularly in May and June.
He explained that the decision to prioritise ICT-related courses was informed by global trends and the need to equip young Nigerians with relevant digital skills.
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“This is the direction the world is going. Investing in ICT education is critical to national development, job creation and addressing security challenges,” he said.
He urged the returning graduates to contribute meaningfully to society, noting that education remained a key tool for socio-economic transformation.
He chief of staff also highlighting that the foundation is expected to expand the programme with more foreign scholarships, alongside ongoing domestic interventions targeting thousands of students across the state.
